The Best Walking Canes of 2024

Diminished mobility often means weight gain—rendering many canes’ ability to support just about 250 pounds unhelpful. The Nova cane is not only lightweight itself—at just 1 pound—but it can support users of up to 500 pounds (most bariatric canes top out at 300 pounds).

And while many bariatric canes have a quad base, the Nova has a round tip that allows for more seamless walking, says Chatiwala. This model may not have many bells and whistles—it comes in just black, silver, and purple on Amazon, and isn’t foldable—but our expert source feels it has universal appeal for many reasons.

Its curved handle redistributes weight, the round tip is easy to navigate, the padded handle is easy to grip, and the fabric loop for hanging or wrapping around the wrist is handy when users want to carry their cane at the same time as a shopping bag or plate of food, Chatiwala notes. She also gave the Nova bonus points for being easy to adjust height-wise, as well as its reasonable price point.

This C-Grip Cane is notable for reasons related to both appearance and function, but that’s no surprise for fans of architect and home goods designer, Michael Graves. Sleek style meets stability with an easy-to-adjust cane made for short and tall heights (4-foot-8 to 6-foot-4 users), and those up to 300 pounds. The tips—it comes with two, standard round and one x-shaped—are also easy to swap in and out. They give new cane users a chance to figure out what works best for them.

Out of all the canes we tested, the C-Grip Cane with the light x-shaped tip made the least noise when touching the ground, and it also enabled this cane to stand up on its own. Replacements for either version tip are inexpensive, too. Chatiwala was intrigued by the C-shaped handle especially, which is not only artistic but uncommon, though she would only recommend it for users who aren’t overweight.

Conveniently, the handle style means it can hook onto the edge of a table without slipping off. The C-shape is unpadded, so it’s not ideal for walking longer distances, but the curvature is especially handy for using two hands to push up from sitting to standing.

It’s easy for new users to pinch a finger when this folding cane snaps itself into place. But the HurryCane has a leg up over other similar models like BeneCane when it comes to other key features, including a more user-friendly rubberized handle that’s comfortable and grippy.

It folds easily into a purse-sized 13.7 inches, and the elasticized wrist strap doubles as a fastener to hold the components in place when the cane’s in its compact state. The HurryCane’s tri-corner tip is also a lot lighter than the BeneCane’s hefty four-corner base and still allows it to stand.

Reasonably priced, HurryCane’s design—connecting the tip to the shaft—allows it to pivot like an ankle, and its cross-hatched tips provide traction on surfaces like sand or gravel. However, replacement tips are a proprietary design and must be replaced by someone with hand dexterity using a Phillips-Head screwdriver.

Grip strength diminishes over time, which can be especially unfortunate for seniors who need a handheld mobility aid. The Kmina cane’s ergonomic handle’s wide base (available for both righties and lefties) immediately fits those who hold it. That means the weight bearing can be distributed more between the palm of the hand without putting too much focus on where the fingers meet. Its multiple (easy) height adjustment options also mean users won’t put pressure on the wrist, since the cane is likely to be properly fitted.

Chatiwala said she likes models like this, especially for patients who may have reduced grip strength. The high-quality woven (and moveable/removable) wrist loop is a nice touch for use when moving and when stationary, she says.

The round, non-slip tip is easy to get used to walking on and to replace. Although, the tread may track in mud or grass if not careful. We especially like how easily this one snaps into place with its interior elastic and appreciate that it’s less than a foot tall when folded (11.4 inches). The thoughtful carrying case is also made of high-quality, water-resistant fabric with a sturdy zipper. Just be careful not to misplace the plastic piece that holds together all four metal rods in the case.